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News

D.C. murders at 18-year low

By Mary Specht | January 13

Almost 200 murders occurred in D.C. in 2004, the fewest since 1986. In the Police Service Area that includes AU, no one was murdered last year, but theft was up 21 percent from 2003. Overall, crime dropped in every major crime category in all seven districts, according to preliminary statistics, said Metropolitan Police Department Chief Charles H.

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Free holiday cab rides to reduce drunk driving

By Emily Carone | December 13

Local police departments and safety programs are aiming to improve highway safety through sobriety checkpoints and free cab rides for intoxicated drivers during the holiday season. The Washington Regional Alcohol Program offers free cab rides from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. through Jan. 1 for people who are too intoxicated to drive home. "SoberRide" pays up to $50 in cab fare. The program is also available on Halloween, St. Patrick's Day and Independence Day.

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Plan provides student tuition refunds

By KIAH CULVER | December 13

About 250 AU students have signed up for the Tuition Refund Plan, which allows students who have to leave school unexpectedly for health reasons to get some of their tuition reimbursed, according to Student Health Center Director Daniel Bruey. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this fall that this sort of insurance is becoming more popular for students nationally.

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Campus Brief: Anime Society hosts Uberfest

By Khai Ha | December 13

Last Friday the Anime Society, an AU student group, hosted its annual Uberfest, a 24-hour long event featuring free food, games and popular Anime movies. With more than 30 people in attendance, meeting everyone's demands was difficult, according to President Sonja Lenning. The movies chosen for viewing were selected from a broad category, ranging from adult content movies to family-oriented films.

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Public Safety responds more quickly to Blue Light tests

By Mary Specht | December 13

Public Safety responded faster to the Women's Initiative's Blue Light tests this fall than it did last spring, Women's Initiative Director Sarah Mashburn announced to the General Assembly Sunday. All of Public Safety's response times were under two minutes in tests conducted Nov. 19 and Nov. 30. In tests last spring, Public Safety took up to eight minutes to appear on the scene. "I think after both the [Blue Light testing] walks, it's clear that Public Safety is making a commitment to make our campus safer, and they evaluated the results from last year so they could respond better," Mashburn said. Response time was longest at two minutes at the red phone in Mary Graydon Center. The shortest response time was 55 seconds at the Blue Light in the Woods-Brown Amphitheatre.

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Police Blotter

By Ryan Grannan-Doll | December 13

A summary of Public Safety activity on and around campus from Dec. 8 to Dec. 10.

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Campus Brief: Several GA members resign due to commitments

By Mary Specht | December 13

Several members resigned at the General Assembly meeting Sunday due to study abroad commitments and strenuous course loads next semester. Speaker Richard Bradbury said that there is "nothing unusual" about this type of turnover between semesters. He said this is an opportunity for people to become involved in the GA by filling the 13 vacancies.

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'Tis the season for student giving

By Claire Maude | December 13

December means finals, stress and last-minute parties before it's time to travel home. However, for students involved in many of AU's clubs and organizations, the holiday season also means charity. Alexandra Perrotta, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs, spent Friday afternoon selling student-made holiday cards in Mary Graydon Center. Profits benefited AU's chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

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School of Education to receive $6.4 million

By Stokely Baksh | December 13

AU's School of Education will receive a $6.4 million grant to be awarded over the next five years from the Department of Education's Teacher Quality Enhancement Program, AU announced Dec. 7. The funds will go toward programs to improve teacher education and increase the academic achievement of students in D.C. public and public charter schools.

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Campus Brief: Library offers 'Final Perk' study break

By Jeannette Kimmel | December 13

Students will have a chance on Wednesday to take a break from their books and try some other food for thought at the library, like at last spring's "Final Perk." Bender Library will host its second annual "Final Perk," giving free coffee and cookies to attendees.

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New master's degrees prep students for jobs

By Lauren Gardner | December 13

AU is working to add more professional master's degree programs in science and sociology this year. Professional master's degree programs aim to prepare graduate students for the working world through more practical experience, rather than the theoretical focus of traditional master's degree programs. This fall, AU joined the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's group of universities that are developing professional science master's degrees.

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Students introduced to Kwanzaa

By Rochelle Chounet | December 13

AU's chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority hosted an event in the McDowell Formal Lounge Thursday night to explain Kwanzaa, an Africa-based holiday that is celebrated the day after Christmas. This has been an annual event for the sorority for the past four years, said Samantha Thomas, a Zeta Phi Beta sister who graduated in May.

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Groups get in the spirit with events

By Lauren Gardner | December 13

Some on-campus religious groups are planning holiday activities for finals week with parties and special religious services, while others are emphasizing good deeds to get into the holiday spirit. The Jewish Student Association, Hillel, Catholic Student Association, and many more campus groups are celebrating the season.

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Students play irreverent 'Reindeer'

By Terissa Schor | December 13

AU students put on the play "Eight Reindeer Monologues" Friday and Saturday. The irreverent performance featured the reindeer discussing an accusation that Santa Claus raped Vixen.

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A swinging good time

By Terissa Schor | December 13

The AU Jazz Ensemble performed 'A Swingin' Affair' on Friday and Saturday nights for the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Night at the Greenberg Theatre on Wisconsin Avenue.

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Campus Calendar

December 13

Upcoming events on campus for the week of Dec. 13.

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Baseball's return to city in jeopardy

By Emily Carone | December 9

The D.C. Council passed preliminary plans to build a new baseball stadium in Anacostia last Tuesday, but the future of the newly named Washington Nationals is still in jeopardy. Six council members approved the stadium plans, four voted against it and three abstained.

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